Joel Embiid on Sixers-Celtics: 'This is not a rivalry'

Joel Embiid on Sixers-Celtics: 'This is not a rivalry'

Joel Embiid just ended the conversation of whether or not the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics are rivals.

The answer? In his eyes, it’s an emphatic ‘no,’ at least for now.

After the Celtics’ 105-87 victory over the Sixers, Embiid addressed the topic with reporters. As Sean Deveney of Sporting News revealed, the Sixers young star was as brutally honest and straightforward as he could possibly be.

“This is not a rivalry. I don’t know our record against them, but it’s pretty bad. They always kick our [expletive].” Embiid said.

In Embiid’s defense, he was probably pretty deflated after this loss, but he’s not completely wrong. Fortunately, it’s not the end of the world that this isn’t exactly a full-blown rivalry yet in the eyes of many.

After all, the Sixers are led by two stars who are under the age of 25 in Embiid and Ben Simmons. They’re also still trying to figure out what they have in former No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz. Even still, Philly is a talented group with tremendous upside and they’re only going to get better.

Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Embiid’s first year actually on the floor, Boston has gone 11-3 against Philadelphia, including the postseason. The Sixers big man is obviously tired of losing to the Celtics, so here’s to hoping they can add a tally to the win column on Christmas.